Device and method for controlling a headlight

• US 10,351,047 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2016
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Fiege, Marcus, Moisel, Joerg, Mueller, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US15/767,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20180297508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,053 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/147 the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/635 by moving refractors, filters or transparent cover plates
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/657 by moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/18 for overhead signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/141 Control of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/647 by matching two-dimensional images to three-dimensional objects

Abstract

A device and a method for controlling at least one headlight for a motor vehicle involve a control apparatus, at least one sensor configured to detect information about objects in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle and to supply the detected information to the control apparatus. The headlight can be adjusted by the control apparatus depending on at least one detected object. A range between at least one light source and at least one lens of the headlight can be adjusted by the control apparatus in order to adapt a projection of the light source to the at least one detected object.

Claims

1. A device for controlling at least one headlight in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a control apparatus;

at least one sensor configured to detect information about objects in an area surrounding the motor vehicle and to supply the information to the control apparatus,

wherein the control apparatus is configured to adjust the headlight depending on at least one detected object,

wherein a light source comprises a row or an array of light-emitting diodes or comprises an array of moveable micro-mirrors,

wherein the control apparatus is configured to adjust a range between the light source and at least one lens of the headlight so that a projection of the light source is focused on a certain range dependent on at least one detected object,

wherein the control apparatus is configured to control a servomotor, which is configured to adjust the range between the light source and the lens, and

wherein the control apparatus is configured to compile an object list from the information about the objects, to select at least one of the objects from the object list as a relevant object, and to determine a range at which the projection of the light source is to be focused, corresponding to the selected object, and to correspondingly control the servomotor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a radar sensor, a LiDar sensor, or a stereo camera.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the information about objects detected by the at least one sensor comprises an attitude angle, a range, or a rate of change in range of at least one object in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two headlights are provided with corresponding servomotors, wherein the control apparatus is configured to focus projections of the light sources of the at least two headlights differently with respect to different objects.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source is tiltable relative to the lens.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is integrated in the headlight.

4. A device for controlling at least one headlight in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a control apparatus;

at least one sensor configured to detect information about objects in an area surrounding the motor vehicle and to supply the information to the control apparatus,

wherein the control apparatus is configured to adjust the headlight depending on at least one detected object,

wherein a light source comprises a row or an array of light-emitting diodes or comprises an array of moveable micro-mirrors,

wherein the control apparatus is configured to adjust a range between the light source and at least one lens of the headlight so that a projection of the light source is focused on a certain range dependent on at least one detected object,

wherein the control apparatus is configured to control a servomotor, which is configured to adjust the range between the light source and the lens,

wherein the control apparatus is configured to compile an object list from the information about the objects, to select at least one of the objects from the object list as a relevant object, and to determine a range at which the projection of the light source is to be focused, corresponding to the selected object, and to correspondingly control the servomotor,

wherein a range change rate of at least one object in the surrounding area of the motor vehicle is determined using the at least one sensor such that the range between the at least one light source and the at least one lens is tracked by the control apparatus in order to keep the projection of the light source focused with respect to the selected object in event of a relative movement between the selected object and the motor vehicle.

13. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is integrated in the headlight.

7. A method for controlling at least one headlight in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting, by at least one sensor, information about objects in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle;

supplying, by the at least one sensor to a control apparatus, the information about the objects;

adjusting, by the control apparatus, the at least one headlight depending on at least one detected object;

adjusting, by the control apparatus, a range between at least one light source, which comprises a row or an array of light-emitting diodes or which comprises an array of micro-mirrors, and at least one lens of the headlight to focus a projection of the light source on the at least one detected object,

wherein the method further comprises

compiling, by the control apparatus, an object list from the information about the objects;

selecting, by the control apparatus, at least one of the objects from the object list as a relevant object; and

determining, by the control apparatus, a range at which the projection of the light source is to be focused, corresponding to the selected object, and to correspondingly control the servomotor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control a servomotor, which is configured to adjust the range between the light source and the lens.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is a radar sensor, a LiDar sensor, or a stereo camera.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the information about objects detected by the at least one sensor comprises an attitude angle, a range, or a rate of change in range of at least one object in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining, using the at least one sensor, a range change rate of at least one object in the surrounding area of the motor vehicle;

tracking, by the control apparatus, the range between the at least one light source and the at least one lens; and

adjusting, based on the determined range change rate and the tracked range between the at least one light source and the at least one lens, the range between the at least one light source and the at least one lens to keep the projection of the light source focused with respect to the selected object in event of a relative movement between the selected object and the motor vehicle.